The In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process begins with a visit for hormone testing and an ultrasound between days 2-4 of your menstrual cycle. Based on the results from this visit, we will be able to determine the protocol which will give you the optimum chance at achieving a pregnancy. Whether you begin a course of birth control pills or a series of injections, the IVF process takes about 4-6 weeks from the beginning of your menstrual cycle until egg retrieval and embryo transfer if doing a fresh embryo transfer.
The egg retrieval procedure is performed under intravenous (IV) sedation and most patients are able to return to work the next day. Embryos are created through standard insemination (mixing eggs and sperm together) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), whereby a single sperm is selected and directly placed within the egg. After several days in culture, embryos are transferred back to the uterus or frozen with or without genetic testing. The exact number of embryos to be transferred will be determined after an extensive discussion between you and Dr. Allen, and is primarily based on a woman’s age, the quality of embryos, and the number of prior IVF cycles you have undergone and whether or not genetic testing was performed on the embryos.
